Topic: Allen & Heath ZED-24 (Read 27438 times)

Dave Dermont · « **on:** January 22, 2011, 11:47:49 AM »

Although I have owned it for over a year, I finally had a chance to bring my Allen & Heath ZED24 mixer out into the wild.

The ZED 24 is a small mixer with 16 mic/line inputs and four stereo line inputs. There are two pre-fader auxiliaries and two post fader auxiliaries. None of the auxiliaries are pre/post switchable.

The USB I/O can send audio to a computer from either a pair of auxiliary sends (1/2 or 3/4) or the main mix. The main mix USB send can be pre or post the main faders. USB audio is sent from a computer to stereo input four. The USB audio I/O can be used for recording, playback, or as an effects send/return with the effect being whatever plug-in you can run on your favorite flavor audio application. The ZED 24 comes packaged with Cakewalk Sonar LE.

It's got got some nice 100mm faders, which are a joy to push. This is especially true if you get stuck using a mixer named after a city in Italy or the small mixers made buy the popular USA manufacturers that use shorter faders. The channel EQ is a three-band type. The single sweepable midrange has a range of 120Hz to 4kHz

An important thing to keep in mind is that the ZED 24 sells for less than $700.00. Despite the low price, it's big enough to do a lot of gigs. It's also small enough to carry under one arm.

So far, I have used the mixer at a couple fund-raising gigs for the new local community radio station, and for the outdoor stage at my home town's First Night celebration on New Year's Eve.

If you need a mixer with 16 microphone inputs, and two monitor sends and two effects sends are enough for what you want to do, then the Allen & Heath ZED 24 is something worth looking at. It's the biggest little $700.00 mixer out there.

Iain.Macdonald · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2011, 01:15:01 PM »

Dave,

These desks are proving quite popular. The pic above is Rob Faulkner of Blitz Communications, with one of twenty-four, that they own.

Iain.

Tim Talbot · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2011, 07:40:45 PM »

i've owned 2x of the ZED14's for some time now and love them... cheap, easy to use and sound ooook to be fair = Never let me down

Tim Talbot · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2011, 12:01:52 PM »

I dont sell them :?

There's some good offers on ebay for these desks or setup a trade account for Allen & Heath products

Iain.Macdonald · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2011, 01:11:05 PM »

attached.

Daniel Cash · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2011, 12:10:42 AM »

Quote from: Rebecca.Joseph on February 09, 2011, 11:04:21 AM

I am interested in buying ZED 24, it's a good multipurpose mixer for live sound & recording, can you give some discount?

I just bought one of these boards a few months ago from North Sound and Light. They had the best price i could find, and they always offer fantastic customer service.

Tim Talbot · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2011, 08:13:50 PM »

Whats the cost over in the states ?

Bill McIntosh · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2011, 10:49:33 PM »

I bought the ZED 22-FX a couple of years ago. The onboard effects work, barely, and were not worth giving up a post-fade aux. The rest of the board is very nice. The USB feature is handy.

Mike Bamber · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2011, 05:13:53 AM »

We have a ZED14 here.
The preamps and EQ leave a lot to be desired! Also likes to blow fuses if you plug it in with the power switch on.
Faders are nice (if a little cheap feeling, but it's to be expected) and USB function is useful.
I'd rather buy a secondhand Venice than the equivalent ZED board new however.

g'bye, Dick Rees · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2011, 10:11:26 AM »

Quote from: Mike Bamber on February 25, 2011, 05:13:53 AM

We have a ZED14 here.
........... likes to blow fuses if you plug it in with the power switch on.

Then don't do that!

Mike Bamber · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2011, 10:17:35 AM »

Quote from: dick rees on February 25, 2011, 10:11:26 AM

Then don't do that!

Good thinking Batman! Why didn't I think of that!

Tim Talbot · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2011, 04:46:49 PM »

Quote from: Mike Bamber on February 25, 2011, 05:13:53 AM

We have a ZED14 here.
Also likes to blow fuses if you plug it in with the power switch on.

Maybe take the time to read the manual... which am sure will state that your meant to turn the unit on after the desk is plugged in (like most things).

Mike Bamber · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2011, 10:09:02 PM »

Quote from: Tim Talbot on February 25, 2011, 04:46:49 PM

Maybe take the time to read the manual... which am sure will state that your meant to turn the unit on after the desk is plugged in (like most things).

No it doesn't state that.

And it's not like most things. I don't know any other bit of sound gear that exhibits that issue. Poor design - not taking into account say installations that have remote / timed power switching.

Tim Talbot · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2011, 11:25:03 PM »

Quote from: Mike Bamber on February 25, 2011, 10:09:02 PM

No it doesn't state that.

And it's not like most things. I don't know any other bit of sound gear that exhibits that issue. Poor design - not taking into account say installations that have remote / timed power switching.

Really ?
Your still using FFA amps right ? (am sure those test results of the 6004 are on here actually)
Anyway it states the PowerCon® should not be connected or disconnected under load or live!

Now i would say this goes pretty much across the board for anything.....
step 1 - plug it in
step 2 - turn it on
step 3 - use the equipment

You seem to be the only person blowing fuses so maybe try the steps above

Mike Bamber · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2011, 05:09:24 AM »

Quote from: Tim Talbot on February 25, 2011, 11:25:03 PM

it states the PowerCon® should not be connected or disconnected under load or live!

What's that got to do with FFA amps?!

If you read the application notes for a powercon connector, you'll find that that's stipulated by Neutrik, not the equipment it's used in. Try re-reading my post... it's not about connecting the power cord when under load. Imagine you're in the scenario where power cuts for whatever reason in a show and gets restored quickly. You can't have the desk popping a fuse on startup. Maybe this one is faulty?

Tim Talbot · « **Reply #15 on:** February 26, 2011, 05:40:55 AM »

Quote from: Mike Bamber on February 26, 2011, 05:09:24 AM

What's that got to do with FFA amps?!

If you read the application notes for a powercon connector, you'll find that that's stipulated by Neutrik, not the equipment it's used in. Try re-reading my post... it's not about connecting the power cord when under load. Imagine you're in the scenario where power cuts for whatever reason in a show and gets restored quickly. You can't have the desk popping a fuse on startup. Maybe this one is faulty?

Well you did say:
''And it's not like most things. I don't know any other bit of sound gear that exhibits that issue''

Well as we both know your FFA10000 blow not just its fuse but components inside after inserting the Powercon underload.... or was this due to something else ?? or maybe that one is faulty as it did to it again only a few weeks later didn't it.....

My point is you have tried your best to discredit a very good desk for its money by making commemnts like:

Quote from: Mike Bamber on February 25, 2011, 05:13:53 AM

We have a ZED14 here.
The preamps and EQ leave a lot to be desired! Also likes to blow fuses if you plug it in with the power switch on.
Faders are nice (if a little cheap feeling, but it's to be expected) and USB function is useful.
I'd rather buy a secondhand Venice than the equivalent ZED board new however.

Now as I've just reminded you your FFA amps have had problems (like your ZED14) and you wouldn't call those cheap would you ? or maybe your just doing something wrong with your kit...

Anyway lets try and get back on track now

Mike Bamber · « **Reply #16 on:** February 26, 2011, 01:20:53 PM »

Quote from: Tim Talbot on February 26, 2011, 05:40:55 AM

Well as we both know your FFA10000 blow not just its fuse but components inside after inserting the Powercon underload.... or was this due to something else ?? or maybe that one is faulty as it did to it again only a few weeks later didn't it.....

Nope, completely wrong there, it was nothing to do with hot-plugging a powercon whatsoever! It was a component in the power supply. We haven't had an issue since

Quote from: Tim Talbot on February 26, 2011, 05:40:55 AM

My point is you have tried your best to discredit a very good desk for its money by making commemnts like:
Now as I've just reminded you your FFA amps have had problems (like your ZED14) and you wouldn't call those cheap would you ? or maybe your just doing something wrong with your kit...

It's a review section. It's all about opinions based on actually owning and using the kit

Tim Talbot · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2011, 01:34:26 PM »

Quote from: Mike Bamber on February 26, 2011, 01:20:53 PM

Nope, completely wrong there, it was nothing to do with hot-plugging a powercon whatsoever! It was a component in the power supply. We haven't had an issue sinceIt's a review section. It's all about opinions based on actually owning and using the kit

Good to hear they sorted that problem out then

and am glad you appreciate my review

Jordan Wolf · « **Reply #18 on:** February 27, 2011, 08:13:26 AM »

Quote from: Mike Bamber on February 25, 2011, 05:13:53 AM

The preamps and EQ leave a lot to be desired...

Mike,

Would you mind expounding on this a little more?

Do the preamps sound noisy to you...do they not have the amount of gain you desire?

The EQ only features one sweepable band, but that's not uncommon for a small-format mixer in the ZED's price range. It would be nice to have more bands or options, but it's usable. What did you think of the 2-band EQ on the stereo channels?

Christopher Capp · « **Reply #19 on:** April 15, 2011, 03:13:30 PM »

Rather disappointed with with Allen and Heath customer service so far. Bought a brand new ZED14... the #4 gain trim causes some sort of horrendous digital sounding feedback when turned up, even with the channel fader down and no 'returns' routed into the board. Manufacturer wont take the board back.... has told us to take it to a repair shop under warranty. It's supposed to be brand new... I didn't pay for a refurbished board by the time this is done.

Tim Talbot · « **Reply #20 on:** April 16, 2011, 12:46:28 PM »

oooo not good buddy

Where are you based if you dont mind me asking ?

Alexi Sachlikidis · « **Reply #21 on:** July 05, 2011, 06:54:16 AM »

I've been using Allen and Heath gear for a bit over a year now, and I have to say that I'm really impressed with them. I have to agree, that they are exceptionally good for the price you pay for them, and then handle most situations more than comfortably. I haven't had any problems with the actual desk at all either.

Mac Kerr · « **Reply #22 on:** July 05, 2011, 02:35:19 PM »

Quote from: Alexi S on July 05, 2011, 06:54:16 AM

I've been using Allen and Heath gear

Please go to your profile and change the "Name" field to your real full name as required by the posting rules clearly displayed in the header at the top of the section, and in the Site Rules and Suggestions in the Forum Announcements section.

Mac

Matt R · « **Reply #23 on:** July 25, 2011, 01:43:12 PM »

Ditto here, my Allen & Heath ZED-24 has not missed a beat, really happy with it for the money!

Quote from: Alexi Sachlikidis on July 05, 2011, 06:54:16 AM

I've been using Allen and Heath gear for a bit over a year now, and I have to say that I'm really impressed with them. I have to agree, that they are exceptionally good for the price you pay for them, and then handle most situations more than comfortably. I haven't had any problems with the actual desk at all either.

ProSoundWeb Community · Â« **Reply #23 on:** July 25, 2011, 01:43:12 PM Â»

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Author Topic: Allen & Heath ZED-24 (Read 27438 times)

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